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Defenseman Patrick Koudys is third in the Big Ten with 45 blocked shots.

Image: GoPSUsports.com

Men's hockey returns to Big Ten action at Ohio State

January 30, 2014

Men's hockey returns to Big Ten action at Ohio State

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The Penn State men's hockey team will return to Big Ten play this weekend when they travel to Columbus, Ohio, for a two-game series against the Ohio State Buckeyes Jan. 31-Feb. 1.

Opening faceoff in the weekend opener between the Nittany Lions (4-15-1, 0-6-0-0 Big Ten) and Buckeyes (12-9-1, 2-5-1-0 Big Ten) is set at 7 p.m., while Saturday's game, which will broadcast live on ESPNews, is at 2 p.m. Both games will also air on GoPSUsports.com and the Penn State Sports Network.

GLEN'S MATCH MEANS SECOND CHANCE FOR SOMEONE ELSEOn Tuesday, sophomore forward David Glen concluded a five-day bone marrow donation procedure after learning he was a match through Be The Match, a National Marrow Donation Program.

The assistant captain participated in the Be The Match-facilitated Match4Kim Drive, which was held in support of Penn State men's lacrosse player's Drew Roper's mother, on campus November 2012. Glen does not know the identity of who will receive the donation. The Ropers are Columbus natives.

According to Be The Match, the five-day peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) donation is a non-surgical procedure and is one of two methods of collecting blood-forming cells for bone marrow transplants. A 7-10 day timetable is typical for recovery for most PBSC donors and mild bone pain can result due to the excessive stem cell crowding within the bone marrow.

Glen, who missed the Nittany Lions' game against Boston College due to the procedure, will not play against Ohio State (Jan. 31, Feb. 1) as he recovers.

Ohio State out shot Penn State, 40-37, but went 0-for-2 on the power play. The Nittany Lions finished 1-for-2. The matchup was Penn State's first against a future Big Ten opponent.

FIRING AT WILLPenn State's 27 second-period shots against Robert Morris Dec. 27 were the most attempts in a period in program history. The team's 62 total shots ranked second, trailing the 63 attempts against AIC in the Nittany Lions' first NCAA game Oct. 12, 2012.

The 79 total shots fired against Michigan State Jan. 17-18 were the most this year against any opponent during a two-game stretch.

PSU out shot No. 1 Minnesota by a 38-25 margin Monday, Jan. 13 as the Gophers failed to out shoot a team for just the fourth time in 2013-14.

JUHA AMONG NATION'S BESTSophomore defenseman Luke Juha is tied for sixth among NCAA blueliners with four power-play goals. His four extra-man markers lead Big Ten defensemen while his eight power-play points place him second. The Mississauga, Ont., native's 13 points place him fourth among Big Ten defensemen.

SHORTHANDED SUCCESSThe Nittany Lions have scored four shothanded goals - the most by a Big Ten team - in 2013-14.

LEADING THE WAYRedshirt sophomore Eric Scheid (10-5--15), sophomore Luke Juha (4-9--13) and freshman David Goodwin (4-6--10) lead the Nittany Lions with double-digit points. Scheid and Juha are among seven Nittany Lions who have appeared in all 20 games.

CAREER YEARSSeveral Nittany Lions have posted or are close to posting career years. Defenseman Luke Juha (4-9--13) and forward Tommy Olczyk (4-3--7) have posted career highs in goals, assists and points.

Defenseman Patrick Koudys (1-3--4) has collected personal bests in assists and points. Eric Scheid's 10 goals are a career high, while his 15 points match his personal best.

PLAYING THEM TIGHTThe Nittany Lions have played in 10 one-goal games (3-7-0) in 2013-14, tying for eighth in the country. Clarkson leads the nation with 17 one-goal games.

SCHEID SURGINGForward Eric Scheid is tied for fourth in the conference in goals (10) and fifth in power-play goals (4).

FRESHMAN SUCCESSDavid Goodwin is tied for sixth among league rookies with 10 points.

YOUTH MOVEMENTPenn State underclassmen have accounted for more than 75 percent of the team's offense. The Nittany Lions' top three scorers are either freshmen or sophomores, with redshirt sophomore Eric Scheid leading the way with 15 points (10g, 5a).

SACRIFICING THE BODYJunior defenseman Patrick Koudys ranks third in the the Big Ten with 45 blocked shots.

IN THE CIRCLERedshirt junior Taylor Holstrom ranks fifth in the conference with a .584 faceoff winning percentage. Sophomore David Glen is 10th with a .554 percentage.

LOOKING AHEADFollowing their weekend series with the Buckeyes, Penn State will return home for a two-game series against No. 12/12 Michigan Feb. 7-8.